I have a user being very persistant on challenging my policy of not supporting wireless keyboards in the office. My experience has been to notice them at users desk for eventually they yuk end up troue shooting erroneous issues that end up being a battery or dying wires module and normally the keyboard comes with a mouse and one of the devices fail and the user wants to keep the good device and you end up with multiple wireless modules plugged into the PC . What are your experiences and policies ?

I use 'em here - they aren't that much more expensive any longer. In fact, I am typing on a wireless keyboard right now. Our environment has some work areas that are small and cluttered, so wireless works great.

Even if the keyboard and mouse have separate receivers, that equals 2. Unless your equipment is very old, there's a good chance it has more than 2 USB ports. Logitech makes both rechargeable and solar keyboards and rechargeable mice. The mice like the Logitech Performance MX, if dead will work immediately if plugged in to charge, making it temporarily a corded mouse. I would guess the keyboard would be the same. I would change that policy to not support crap wireless peripherals but get with the times and support decent quality wireless peripherals. The Logitech Unify devices mentioned above work very well.

IF always found the user will know about changing the batteries in the wireless mice, because it needs done every 2-3 months, but I have seen keyboards go almost 2 years on the first set. By then, you've forgotten that it needs batteries until after you've restarted the computer 2-3 times...

Personally I don't care as long as the user is happy with it. The happier they feel about the little things the less I have to hear about it.

We have a lot of the Microsoft 3000 keyboard and mouse combo wireless units. They have an indicator light that will warn when the battery is getting low. So not really to hard to figure out what the problem is nowadays.

IMO, it seems silly to equip a desktop PC with a keyboard that needs batteries to operate. Unnecessary expense and an additional point of failure.

Point of failure if you by cheap peripherals. I have a old Logitech Wireless Presenter that has lasted over 15 years. Needs batteries, that's where rechargeable mice and keyboards come in. Even a pricey keyboard and mouse setup are still minor compared to the cost of a PC or laptop and software so nit picking over a minor peripheral is kind of silly. I've replaced many more wired keyboards and mice that come standard with equipment than the wireless ones we've purchased.

If my customers want them, they can have them. Lets them put their keyboard and mouse where they want without worrying me about USB extension cables and the like. Haven't had a customer bother me with low battery issues in years. They know when it's time to change them.

We have no restriction on input device type. If the user wants wireless, then they have it approved by their department. They also understand that they, not IT, provides the batteries. Simple as that.

btw, Many of my systems are Macs that come with wireless devices. Again, as long as they take care of the batteries, no problems. The only time I have to be wired is when having to boot to something other than the system drive. I provide that keyboard, and when I'm done I take it with me.

You could always train the users that insist on using wireless devices to check all the parameters you normally would to save you time and hassle. Teach them to check battery status, all wired connections and how to reseat, etc. They're happy and so are you, because it isn't in your hands.

We have standard keyboards and mice for all users, except for the owners, they get what they want which is usually wireless. There are only a couple users who have purchased their own and we tolerate it, but don't advertise it.

Then there is the one user who uses a track ball, so every time I need to work on the machine I have to bring a regular mouse, not that I can't use it, I just don't want to touch it, like an old ball mouse turned inside out, ugh!

If they want to buy it themselves and buy the batteries for it themselves and when it doesn't work right, they deal with it, not you. Sure let them have what they want. There is no benefit to having a wireless mouse/keyboard on a desktop system. It is just a "convenience" to have one. They want one, they can buy one. I think that they are pain in the bum, but that is my opinion. They want one, have them buy one.

Just go with Logitech and you will be worry free. They are really good quality and in my experience the mx line is really a never fail line, at least for me.
Like Mike said, if the user is happy with the little things, the less you have to hear about it. And they usually know when to change change the battery so is not a problem at all. And less cable to order, so win win.

I don't see why people insist on forbidding these sorts of things on the grounds of hassle. Wireless input devices have been stable for a long time; it's not like the connections drop randomly. Keyboard batteries tend to last for well over a year, and the mice are usually good for a month or two, or are rechargeable. There's little to no hassle about them, and they're not all that expensive anymore.

I don't typically buy them for the office, just because most of our input devices are just whatever Dell is including with Optiplexes at the time. However, I've had some ergonomic and comfort issues myself lately. If a user is having the same sort of thing, or even if the cable really does just get in the way, by all means provide your own, or bring it up to me and I'll accommodate as best as I can. I'm not there to make sitting at your computer a literal pain in the ass. Now, I won't go to great lengths to make your self-provided items work, but I'm willing to give you a hand for a few minutes, even if it's just to plug it in.

Don't you have better things to do than worry about user input devices?

I make it a point to keep a couple of Logitech roller balls on the shelf as well as a couple of Logitech and Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combos. I have dozens of OEM kb/mouse combos left over from people keeping their high quality input devices after a system upgrade. Getting 5 years hard use out of an ergonomic M$ Natural 4000 keyboard is hardly a waste of resources!

For people that can really type, having appropriate input devices is a productivity improvement. I'm always surprised to see IT people that can't type worth a darn, I mean, seriously? THAT is the IT weenie that tells people they can't have a decent keyboard, and that "if I don't need it, you don't need it" attitude will cripple your user relationships.

I'll disagree with that statement. A decent wireless mouse/keyboard combo runs between $50 and $80 (Logitech stuff is on the high end), plus the ongoing cost of batteries. Contrast with the "it's included" cost of a basic wired mouse/keyboard combo that comes with the PC, with no ongoing expense for batteries. Again, the Logitech stuff is miles ahead in terms of battery life ... especially if you can convince your users to turn them off when they leave at night.

Granted "aren't that much more expensive" is entirely relative. But we're not talking a difference of $5 or $10 per unit.

Don't you have better things to do than worry about user input devices?

I make it a point to keep a couple of Logitech roller balls on the shelf as well as a couple of Logitech and Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combos. I have dozens of OEM kb/mouse combos left over from people keeping their high quality input devices after a system upgrade. Getting 5 years hard use out of an ergonomic M$ Natural 4000 keyboard is hardly a waste of resources!

For people that can really type, having appropriate input devices is a productivity improvement. I'm always surprised to see IT people that can't type worth a darn, I mean, seriously? THAT is the IT weenie that tells people they can't have a decent keyboard, and that "if I don't need it, you don't need it" attitude will cripple your user relationships.

Regards,

Brian in CA

You know I can kind of see both sides of this coin.

We're talking a few years since I've done desktop support but I remember all manner of problems with wireless keyboards and mice where they'd randomly stop working or you'd go to fix something and logon as local admin and then logoff and the normal user logs on only to find the keyboard and/or mouse have decided they need to be re-paired etc.

I wouldn't dream of telling someone what they need in order to do their job, but with most things where wired or wireless is an option, wired (mostly) seems to "just work" with none of the baggage.

Even if the keyboard and mouse have separate receivers, that equals 2. Unless your equipment is very old, there's a good chance it has more than 2 USB ports. Logitech makes both rechargeable and solar keyboards and rechargeable mice. The mice like the Logitech Performance MX, if dead will work immediately if plugged in to charge, making it temporarily a corded mouse. I would guess the keyboard would be the same. I would change that policy to not support crap wireless peripherals but get with the times and support decent quality wireless peripherals. The Logitech Unify devices mentioned above work very well.

I had a wireless keyboard with a solar panel on it... I never needed to replace the batteries it was great. (Until I spilled a tall glass of water on it)